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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Hutchinson Ports Holdings Trust (“HPH”) has delivered a set of quarterly results which is good, driven by the sales of its stake in Asia Containers Terminals (“ACT”). HPH as a stock is the best performer in STI, when it comes to dividends yields payouts as HPH has been paying its unit holders an average payouts of around 7.8%.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Singapore stocks performed in a lacklustre trade on 29 April 14 ahead of the Federal Reserves’ meeting. The STI and Singapore stocks as a whole behave quite good year-to-date. Investors have been bullish and the spate of acquisition and delisting whether actual or potential have sparked a new wave of interest among retail investors since the cooling down of their appetites following the penny stocks “saga” of October 2013.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Singapore stocks went south by 0.70% on 28 April 14, in line with the performance of US stocks on 25 April 14. OCBC stock went “XD” on the same day as it closed the session at $9.45. I have this stock and hence have gotten the dividends; still the closing price of OCBC stock is still above my price. Whether to buy or sell OCBC stock now is my own choice and I prefer to keep this stock as I think overall, OCBC stock is still reasonably-valued.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

For the week of 21 April to 25 April, my stock in United Engineers Engineering & Construction (“UE E&C”) stock went further south. I should be not too happy right but no, I have actually “more or less” predicted that this stock will head down, hence I have sold all the stocks I have in this counter, pocket quite some good profits before buying just a few lots of this stocks just in case that this UE E&C stock is really undergoing privatisation and there is a good exit offer being made then; anyway even if this stock is not undergoing any privatisation, the good dividends of over 5% is quite attractive.

For many investors and stocks traders, there are still some questions over China’s economy. We have seen how China’s manufacturing data results continue to shape the stocks markets regionally: STI eased 0.6% on 23 April 2014 in line with the direction of other stocks markets. We have also not factored in US economy and Europe’s economies which may shape Singapore stocks.

I received the letter from Golden Agriculture Resources on 24 April 14 which contained a CD-ROM of its annual report of FY2013 and the invitation letter to its AGM. Golden Agriculture Resources’ AGM was on the following day: 25 April 2014 and I really thought that it was quite “rush” for Golden Agriculture Resources to send the notice to its investors only for them to receive a day before the AGM.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

SMRT stock grabbed the headlines of Singapore stocks for the week of 21 April to 25 when it stock price headed up by almost 20%. It was thought that the increase in its stock price was due to the thinking that SMRT would benefit from a new regulatory railways framework or possibly be privatised or nationalised. Another stock which made headlines albeit not on the scale for the above week was PACC or POSH stock. POSH stock headed up by just 0.5 cents on its first day of debut. Prior to its trading, many investors are saying that the IPO price is probably too high above its Net Asset Value.

I believe everyone knows The Lion King. The Lion King is a movie, is a musical and it has even sparked a brand of its own with many collectables branded under The Lion King. Some of us have even watched the musical The Lion King (though I have not watched it, I have watched a similar musical in Hong Kong’s Ocean Park). When it comes to musicals, The Lion King is not the only familiar musical known to Singaporeans, Singaporeans are familiar with Phantom of the Opera too.

Friday, April 25, 2014

The cost of living and inflation in our country are high and it is encouraging to read that more and more Singaporeans are starting to invest early. It is no easy task to get started in investing as there is always an “inertia” and a “comfort zone” stage to trying anything new. I applaud those who have stepped into the investment world like myself and the onus for all of us, investors is to achieve our financial goals prudently against the backdrop of the global stocks markets (I mean Singapore is too small a stocks markets and our markets are shaped by the larger stocks markets of the US, Europe and China).

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Blumont stock price is now 33 cents (as of 23 Apr 14). On 23 April 2014, Blumont Group announced its take-over plans of Genesis Resources Limited Merlin Diamonds limited and appointed Ng Kim Huat as an independent non-executive director.

Blumont Group Limited is helmed by two executive Directors, Neo Kim Hock who is a practising Licensed Land Surveyor and James Hong who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics degree from NUS. Kim Hock oversees the operational aspects of property segment in Malaysia and supervises funding arrangements while James Hong oversees the overall corporate direction, strategic planning and the daily management of the group. The remuneration band of James Hong and Neo Kim Hock is between $250,000 to $500,000 and below $250,000 respectively.

SMRT stock price was $1.025 yesterday but today the stock price was $1.215, a 19 –cents or 18.5% increase! Intra-day, SMRT stock price went as high as $1.24! When queried by SGX, SMRT said that it was not aware of any announcements which may have sparked the rally in SMRT stock price. SGX has given SMRT stock a “trade with caution” status.
So what could have caused SMRT stock price to head up by so much in one single day? On the corporate front, there was not much corporate news which might have explained this rally, except for the appointment of a Senior Vice President.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

As I read MyPaper this morning, a headline titled “From $30,000 a day to $1,000 a month” interested me. Wow, $30,000 a day is equivalent to more than $1 million a year; this is around the median salary of CEOs of medium-sized companies. As I noted in the episode of Money Mind last week, the median salary of CEOs in large-sized companies, medium-sized companies and small-sized companies are around $625,000, $1 million and $4 million respectively. So this man could be a CEO too, I thought to myself.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Tom K works hard in his work and personal commitments. But when it comes to wealth creation and generation, Tom K knows that he is no Tom Cruise. Tom K knows that hard work and abilities do not necessarily get recognised at work and translate into higher salaries; and even if they do, unless one earns a high five-figures monthly salary –Tom K is just an ordinary folk holding a modest job- income generated from work alone may not be sufficient for retirement, let alone, financially freedom.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Dear Readers, I have been posting a lot of posts with regards to stocks which could be candidates for privatisation, acquisition , delistings or mergers. Besides my own personal posts, there have also been many more analyst reports being doled out and not to mention that a leading local respected financial magazine has also been running articles on potential privatisation stocks for two consecutive editions! Indeed, could more stocks be undergoing privatisation?

There has really been a lot of interest in potential stocks which could be privatised, delisted, acquired or merged. Nowadays, when I read the investment sections of the newspapers, stocks-related forums, the topics of discussion are always the next potential stocks for privatisation, mergers, delisting and acquisition.

Let us trace back to what really caused the renewal in interest of the above? In my opinion, this whole interest was really sparked by Noble Group’s sales of its agricultural unit to a Chinese firm. Following this, Temasek bought over Olam and then there are two noteworthy privatisation or acquisition in Capitaland and Wheelock Properties.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

The Singapore stocks markets have been chasing after potential privatisation and delisting stocks ever since Olam, CapitaMalls Asia and Hotels Properties Limited have been reported to be undergoing privatisation or acquisition plans. I have also shared with readers in my posts about the possible stocks which will be undergoing privatisation.

I have been pretty much what I call a “Financial Underdog”. I have been leading a humble life, working hard, earning a honest living, always trying to improve myself in many arenas of life and giving the best to my abilities to cater to my families. In work and society, I work hard, to the best of my abilities, treating people with respect and dignity, regardless of the ranks they are in society. That is I and I do the above with ease. I am a simple man with goals to improve myself for myself and for my families.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

I have been redeploying my capital to purchase more stocks; stocks which I believe should be bought at this time. There has been a lot of chatter on which stocks would be the next privatisation targets. While some of my stocks actually are under this list of potential “privatisation targets”, my motivation of buying these stocks does not actually come from reading these “privatisation candidates” report or reading the online chatter. The motivation of buying these stocks come from the very fact that they are good stocks, some with good dividends payouts and have a company’s growth story.

Friday, April 18, 2014

PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH) has launched its IPO as it plans to raise S$388.3 million in gross proceeds and if the IPO is successful, the IPO would be the largest IPO in the Singapore Exchange (SGX) this year. About forty million shares out of a total of 337.63 million shares will be set aside for retail investors. The company is linked to Robert Kuok, the richest man of Malaysia.

I am still waiting for SGX to release its findings into what is dubbed as the “penny stocks rout” of Oct 2013. But already, investors have seen some “follow-up actions” by the authorities (be it SGX or not) when CAD started to question many CEOs and Directors of some “penny stocks firms”. I think investors’ confidence in penny stocks could only be restored once the results of the investigation are released.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Singapore Press Holdings (“SPH”) has released its financial results. Though the dividends payouts-rate is still “decent”, the financial performance of the company is not really very good. The reasons for the “lacklustre” performance are attributable to reductions in contributions from advertising. Two reasons I read from reports that cause the reductions are due to the properties cooling measures introduced by the government and the Malaysia’s episode.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Biosensors International Group stock went north by over 10% in intra-day trading today on 16 April 2014. The price increase is good to me as I have just bought the stock to add on to the existing shareholdings I already hold in Biosensors stocks which was bought at higher prices. The motivation for buying more of Biosensors stock is to “dollar cost average” the stocks while expecting a privatisation offer for Biosensors.

Many listed companies are holding their AGMs. In my earlier posts, I have shared with readers some of the more important questions to ask in a stock company AGM. These questions are all the more important to be asked as an AGM is often seen as one of the not many platforms in which a retail investor can meet up, close and personal with the management of the stock company such as the Chairman, CEO, President, CFO, COO, Managing Director, Directors, General Managers, etc. Though in my opinion, such questions are often replied with “standard answers”, it is still better for investors to ask the management for their “voices” to be at least heard by them.

An analyst has indicated that Wheelock Properties is the only stock which fits all the criteria for delisting or privatisation in an article in a leading local financial magazine. For retail investors who believe in this prospect and buy into Wheelock Properties, the acquisition of Hotels Properties Limited by Wheelock Properties may turn out to be interesting but still as an acquirer, the stock price of Wheelock Properties has also headed north though not as much as Hotels Properties Limited.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) will be acquired by Wheelock properties and Tycoon Ong Beng Seng as was announced today. Indeed, the dynamics of the stocks markets are such that often it gives investors little time to plan and react. Yesterday, we were just talking about the acquisition of CapitaMalls Asia by Capitaland and I really think that most investors have not had the time to completely “digest” this piece of acquisition news, let alone plan for what they should do next (if they have CapitaMalls Asia stocks, will they accept the exit offer and if they do not have the stocks, will they follow the ‘herd mentality’ and explore what are the possible privatisation stocks next?)

I am not sure but there seems to be a wave of potential privatisation stocks chatter in the stocks markets. I am not sure whether this has to be due to the fact that Singapore being a small market is a price-taker and does not have too much “juicy” things to talk about besides the ongoing probe into some penny stocks, the occasional property cooling measures and not to mention some of the measures by the US, the Europe and China. Yes, once again, there is so much chatter on potential privatisation stocks targets.

An analyst has listed in his report some stocks which are potential delisting targets. These stocks are CWT, Biosensors International Stock (“BIG”), Ho Bee Land, Dyna-Mac, CH Offshore just to name a few. I have studied carefully his report and from the flurry of comments online about the same report; I think that the analyst’s report has generated quite a buzz among investors here.

Monday, April 14, 2014

CapitaMalls Asia stock will be taken private by Capitaland and delisted from the Singapore stocks exchange, as announced today. When I learnt this delisting news, I was so surprised. I mean I am still digesting the wave of “potential delisting stocks targets” and just learnt that CapitaMalls Asia is also one of these targets from a leading financial magazine when the news of the delisting was announced. In case that you are wondering whether I own the stock, no I do not have any CapitaMalls Asia stocks.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

My investment stock portfolio since the beginning of year 2014 has been undergoing “restructuring” as I seek to diversify my portfolio in terms of sectors and also to move into more dividends-paying stocks. Hence I have been selling some of my non-performing stocks and buying into more quality dividends stocks, the following is what I have been buying or selling this year.

I have bought OCBC stock as I believe on a long-term basis, the bank will be doing well with its overseas expansion into China. Currently I am holding the stock with a modest 3.55% upsides. I also want to get the dividends soon.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

I received a copy of Noble Group stock annual report yesterday which was mailed to me. Similar to the previous copy, Noble Group did not give a hardcopy annual report but instead attached a CD containing the annual report along with the other documents. However, as stated in the documents, the company welcome interested shareholders to email or write in to the company to request a hardcopy annual report.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Dynac-Mac announced yesterday that it proposes a dividend of two-cents per share. With a closing price of $0.39 yesterday, this dividends works out to 5.1% which is quite good to me. I am starting to like this stock and the proposed dividends is actually an additional icing to the cake of contractual wins which Dynac-Mac has announced.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

I did some mistakes at work and clearly one of my bosses was not happy. On this, I thought to myself that making mistakes is part and parcel of success. In Investments, one is always prone to making mistakes. The most important thing is to learn from these mistakes. Personally, I have made mistakes in investments, learnt from them and have improved in my trading and investing. Success cannot be achieved without not making mistakes.

In my previous post on this stock, UE E&C stock which is known as United Engineers Engineering and Construction stock, I have told you readers that I have increased my stake in this stock; you can refer to that earlier post for more details such as my motivation of buying this stock. But if you are busy like many busy Singaporeans, I will just let you know that this stock attracted my buying interest as with a proposed dividends of seven-cents per share and a possible attractive exit-offer, the dividend pay-out rate works out to around five-percentage. That was when my buying price was around $1.20++.

Many people characterise the Singapore stocks markets as either the bulls or the bears depending on how the Singapore stocks perform. I beg to differ. I think it is not fair to give credit to just these two animals when it comes to describe the Singapore stocks markets. True, these two animals: the bulls and the bears have been used since long time ago to characterise the global stocks markets. But in Singapore stocks markets, there are many other animals there too … “in” our stocks.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

A number of companies will be holding their annual general meetings (“AGMs”) this month. I am considering attending some of these AGMS as I feel that it is my right to do so as a shareholder. I am not sure how many people actually turn up at the AGMs for the free buffet reception after the AGMs? I am also not sure how many people turn up for a chance to “grill” the multi-millionaires management of the company? Anyway, whatever motivation you have as an investor, attending an AGM is good in my opinion.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Yesterday, as I exited from the MRT station gantries, I saw to my surprise that my train fees have increased by six-cents! This six-cents translates to quite some percentages of my fare per trip and if I multiply this amount by the number of days in a month and two trips (i.e “to” and “fro” trips) per day, I have to pay at least $3.60 more in my train fees in a month! $3.60 is equivalent to a simple meal outside, I noted.

Yesterday morning, I tucked few pieces of vegetables between my slices of bread from a loaf which I bought at a humble price. There, I completed the spread with some yummy mayonnaise and there I have: my home-made, wholesome breakfast which cost just so much lesser than one could get from a similar commercial outfit and the health benefits are no lesser than it. I like vegetables and I see how in this fast-paced society of ours, many people are consuming quite a lot of junk food and not much vegetables, are leading quite a sedentary lifestyle with too many hours sitting in the offices and not doing too much exercises.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Noble Group has rallied so many percentage points so much so that I thought it is like Ezion Holdings which rocketed up and up in its stock price in Ezion’s heydays. The news which prompted the stellar northward climb of Noble Group was nevertheless the acquisition of the agricultural business of Noble Group by a China’s business. Investor analysts reports which I have read are downplaying the “hype” of this acquisition and analysts are giving Noble Group either a “Hold” or “Reduce” call. I have expected these kind of advice and hence I have sold Noble Group regardless whether the stock continued to head north in price.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

F&N paid out $0.42 per share to eligible investors on or around 3-Apr-2014 in an exercise called capital reduction. As I have shared with readers, I bought F&N stocks and one of the reasons why I bought F&N share then was due to this fact of capital reduction as I know that I would be paid 42-cents per share if I were to hold on to the stocks. I paid $3.40 for F&N per lot (1000 shares) and I still remember that the day before F&N went ex-entitlement, F&N stock went as high as $3.68 in stock price and on the day of ex-entitlement, the stock price went south to around $3.20+.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Money Mind hosted by Dawn Tan and Money Week hosted by Tung Soo Hwa are two financial shows I like to watch. Money Mind is shown every Sunday, 9.30pm on Channel News Asia while Money Week is shown every Saturday 10.30 pm on Channel U with a repeat telecast every Sunday at 11.30 pm on the same channel.

Hyflux has appointed Genevieve Woo who was a former journalist and former news presenter of Channel News Asia, and a former anchor of Money Mind (a favourite financial programme of mine) to head its global marketing and corporate communications departments. The news came on the back of Oon Jin Teik leaving a senior corporate position in Hyflux to head a department in the new Sports Hub.

Friday, April 4, 2014

I read the reports that the probe into the Blumont, Asiasons and LionGold (“BAL”) stocks saga has now involved the Commercial Affairs Division (CAD). When this news was announced on 2nd April 2014, the stock price of these three beleaguered stocks continued to head south even further. The report did not provide information on the earlier probe into these three stocks by the Singapore Stocks Exchange (SGX). Hence I did not know whether the CAD has taken over from the SGX the probe into these three stocks or whether the CAD’s probe is independent from the SGX probe.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

The reality of work can be such that it can leave the most capable, the most hardworking employee demotivated. Why is it so? Well, the workplace can be such that the rewards in terms of promotions and career advancement are distributed in an inequitable manner.

I increased my stake in United Engineer Engineering and Construction (UE E&C). UE E&C is a good dividend play with dividend payouts of more than five percentages annually. Also there is a likelihood that UE E&C may be acquired though this probability of acquisition is not more important to me than the dividends rate that is provided by UE E&C.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

The STI rallied again today (2nd April 2014) led by strong manufacturing figures from abroad. The STI has added quite a fair bit since March 2014 and I must congratulate readers who have profited from this seeming uptrend. But is this uptrend a rally? Is it still timely for investors to enter into the stock markets and ride on the uptrend or the rally?

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

I received a letter from MND informing me that my household is entitled to rebates on Service and Conservancy charges. When I read the message, I am filled with a sense of gratitude as I can at least save some monies. I have been working hard, spending on the most basic necessities for myself, while doing my best to earn good rates of returns from investments and or trading while continuing to think of some other ways to generate good rates of monies. I am not greedy but really the cost of living and the amount of stress in Singapore really make me wonder whether I can afford to retire?